Chapter 704

Jonathan Reeves' body turned ice cold.

Alexandra Montgomery entered with coffee in hand. "Mr. Reeves, have my cousins left?"

Jonathan gave her a complicated look, pressed his lips together, and pointed to her small desk.

"Clear your things out. From now on, you'll be treated like everyone else here. Do your job properly!"

Alexandra's face stiffened.

"Did you misunderstand something? As you saw earlier, Evelyn and Alexander are my cousins!"

"There's no misunderstanding. Sterling Enterprises treats everyone equally. And I suggest you change that group photo on your desktop wallpaper. We don’t tolerate nepotism here. Merit is what matters."

Jonathan took a deep breath. As a middle-aged man who had nearly lost his job, he couldn’t afford any missteps.

"W-Why?"

Alexandra didn’t understand. Why had Jonathan’s attitude toward her shifted so drastically after Evelyn and Alexander’s visit?

Had they said something about her?

"Because this is my department!" Jonathan snapped impatiently. "If you’re unhappy, go complain to President Alexander or President Evelyn. If that’s not enough, take it up with Chairman Sterling himself!"

It was clear Jonathan had no intention of catering to a privileged relative who had gotten in through connections.

Alexandra clenched her jaw. Furious, she stormed upstairs to confront Evelyn.

But Sterling Enterprises had strict rules—only senior leaders and those with prior appointments could enter Evelyn’s workspace. Alexandra had no such privilege.

They were cousins, yet she didn’t even have Evelyn’s phone number. She pestered the receptionist relentlessly until he finally lost patience and called Bennett.

Bennett considered refusing outright, but given Alexandra’s relation to Evelyn, he reluctantly informed her.

Evelyn smirked when she heard. "Let her in."

Bennett raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Less than a minute later, Alexandra barged into the office, seething. But the moment Evelyn lifted her gaze, the icy chill in her eyes froze Alexandra mid-step.

The words died in Alexandra’s throat.

What right did she have to complain?

Had she forgotten how she’d gotten into Sterling Enterprises in the first place?

The Sterling relatives had been sent away on New Year’s Eve, each one more anxious than the last, terrified the family would cut ties with them.

The two women who had spoken ill of Evelyn had been publicly named and shamed. Everyone wanted to drag them back to grovel at Evelyn’s feet.

One of those women was Alexandra’s mother.

That New Year’s Eve had been anything but auspicious.

Evelyn tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk. "I heard you wanted to see me?"

Every second was precious to Evelyn. She had no time to waste on Alexandra.

Alexandra hesitated, then quickly slipped back into her delicate, pitiful act.

"Evelyn, did you say something to Mr. Reeves? Right after you left, he told me to clear out of the office. Did I… do something to upset you?"

Evelyn’s lips thinned. Did Alexandra do something to upset her?

Bennett, standing to the side, couldn’t take it anymore. Someone like this wasn’t worth Evelyn’s time.

He cleared his throat. "Ms. Montgomery, I believe Mr. Reeves simply realized his oversight. The office space is reserved for specific personnel—rules that apply to everyone."

Alexandra bit her lip. "But… I’m your cousin. I just wanted to be closer to Mr. Reeves so I could learn faster—"

Bennett’s eye twitched. He was truly at a loss for words.